IAN McParland revealed he gave his Notts County players the 'paint-stripper' treatment after defeat to Chester City in their last home game.

And the Magpies' boss was pleased with the response it provoked at Rotherham, despite losing 2-1 at the Don Valley Stadium.

He has challenged them to produce the same standard of performance against Grimsby Town today and end their winless run at Meadow Lane.

After winning four home games out of five at the start of the year, they have lost to Luton, Gillingham and Chester and drawn against Accrington in their last four outings.

McParland said: "I had my say after the Chester game and there was paint coming off the walls in the dressing-room.

"It was still constructive but they were told in no uncertain terms I wasn't happy with them. I got the response I wanted and we didn't deserve to lose at Rotherham, but we killed ourselves with the two goals we conceded. They could both have been avoided."

The Magpies beat Grimsby 1-0 on Boxing Day, with leading scorer Delroy Facey netting the winner at Blundell Park.

"We need a win to put a smile on some of the supporters' faces," added McParland.

"I know a lot of them aren't happy and some never will be. I want another good performance and a win."

McParland is likely to revert back to 4-4-2, after starting with a 4-3-3 formation at Rotherham.

"I thought we got our tactics spot-on in the first half," said McParland. "When we play against teams with three in midfield we struggle, we get overrun a little bit.

"We had Hammy (Matt Hamshaw) playing in behind Delroy (Facey) and we had our two wide men going at them with pace. Myles (Weston) hit a fantastic shot that came off the crossbar; I just wish one of them would go in for us.

"There was a great shot from Jonathan (Forte) and a good save from the goalkeeper. We were dangerous all of the time.

"If they had gone in it would have changed the game. It doesn't mean we would have gone on to win, but we would have been in a good position."

McParland felt Facey should have netted his tenth goal of the season to rescue a deserved point, after Forte struck.

"When they got their second it was an uphill battle but we kept on going and Jonathan did well and scored a good goal," he said. Overall I am really disappointed because I feel it's a game we could have won against a good side.

"I have to sort out why we didn't win it."

Michael Johnson is in line to return for Notts today.